Question about school supplies

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Ok I dont start LPN school until September but I have gotten some advice from current students in the same program that graduate this August. When I got accepted into the program I got a packet which of course explained the program's fees and costs and it gave me a list of items that would need to be purchased. Some of those things needed of course are books (which said in the packet that those would be ordered within the first few days of class) but other things such as a nursing kit (includes a pocket protector, pen light, stethoscope etc.) The last thing listed was a watch with a second hand. Now the students that are currently in the program that I have spoken with have told me not to purchase the kit at all that the items are cheap and will only break on me, has anyone out there had this problem with kits from their schools and would me going off on my own and purchasing items be disrepectful to the school? I dont want to use cheap things, I want to be able to trust the tools of the trade esp if I'm the nurse thats going to be using them and of course with he economy not doing well I want to only have to purchase items once. Also I was wondering on an opinion from others on using a watch with a second hand. I'm currently in law enforcement now and I am used to using a digital watch in military time but my watch is a good one that has a digital second counter on it. Could this watch be acceptable to use? Has anyone out there used a digital watch with a digital second counter on it? I'll buy a regular watch no problem but if I'm able to stick with whats familiar to me I would rather do that. Opinions please...:uhoh21:

For stethoscopes I have been looking at the Littmann Master Classic II and the Littmann Classic II SE both are between $60-$100 which I thought was a good price range (not the most expensive and not the cheapest, something nice in the middle:twocents:). Any thoughts on either of these? I want something that I can hear well with, the cheaper ones I used while in the police academy learning first aid were junk and I couldnt hear anything well.

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Specializes in ..

You wont actually be able to wear a wrist watch when practicing/on the wards - second hand or not. Id highly recommend getting a fob watch with a second hand that you can pin to your shirt and be able to look down at and read easily.

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Specializes in ICU.
You wont actually be able to wear a wrist watch when practicing/on the wards - second hand or not. Id highly recommend getting a fob watch with a second hand that you can pin to your shirt and be able to look down at and read easily.

Why do you say that the OP won't be able to wear a wrist watch? Most of the folks in my cohort (accel BSN, not LPN in case that matters any) did just that, with no hassles at all.

I used my Casio digital watch with no trouble at all. No need for an "analog" sweep hand style watch, although some folks find it easier to visually see the 15/30/60 sec time interval from a sweep watch vs the digital style.

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As far as the stethoscope, I wouldn't go too expensive. They have a tendancy to walk. My $14 Littman worked fine. No one is going to notice whether you have the kit or buy it on your own since it will be in your pocket.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

With the watch I would go with what the school recommends. Places may be clamping down on wrist watches for infection control reasons.

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The only "kit" that I bought was one that came with a little pocket protector, a tri-color pen (black, blue & red ink), a penlight and bandage scissors. You don't have to splurge on pens, penlights and bandage scissors lol. The stethoscope however, is a different story. In my opinion, "you get what you pay for" - if you buy a cheap $20 stethoscope, chances are the quality is going to be cheap and you won't really be able to hear well with it. I bought a Littmann Classic II S.E. which I LOOOVE. I paid $74.95 for it (that includes tax and S&H) and it's probably one of the best investments I have made. The quality is great and I can hear very well with it. I bought mine from http://www.reddingmedical.com which I thought had the cheapest price compared to any medical supply store/online store that sells Littmann Classic II S.E.s. The shipping was really fast, too. The Littmann Classic II S.E. also comes with a 3-year warranty which will last you through nursing school. If you buy one, just make sure you don't let that thing leave your sight...everyone loves Littmanns and stethoscopes get stolen all of the time!

I don't know about the digital second counter...I would much rather have a regular non-digital watch with a second hand. When counting a pulse (though generally dynamaps do this for you, which is the vital signs machine that does everything except respirations) and respirations, you need a second hand. For me, using a sweeping watch is easier to see than a digital one. I would check with your school to see if you could use the digital one and if you can't, then go buy a sweeping watch. They aren't very expensive - I think I paid close to $20 for mine and it's waterproof, which is nice.

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As far as the stethoscope is concerned it really depends on the person. I am unable to hear well with some of the cheaper ones. I first had a Littmann Classic II SE - that I really liked, but during clinical it did grow legs. I then bought the 40$ Littmann Lightweight and that was fine for me, I was still able to hear fine. When I am finally done with school - I will probably get another Classic, but for students and the possibility of it disappearing, I would recommend the Lightweight.

But only you can decide what will work best for you.

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Okay, here's a naive question...what's with all these "Littmans growing legs" aphorisms??? Are some students carelessly leaving their steths around and losing them? Or are they being stolen? If stolen, are they suspecting other students, or someone on staff? Are they being "borrowed" for use (yuck) and just not put back where the owner finds them? Or are they being stolen to become the thief's personal property?

These are expensive items. No need to be polite around thieves. One should either admit "I lost it" or "Someone stole it". Of course, no one should be accused without very, very good evidence, but saying it was stolen "by someone" will raise the awareness of theft on the unit, if that's the case.

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Okay, here's a naive question...what's with all these "Littmans growing legs" aphorisms??? Are some students carelessly leaving their steths around and losing them? Or are they being stolen? If stolen, are they suspecting other students, or someone on staff? Are they being "borrowed" for use (yuck) and just not put back where the owner finds them? Or are they being stolen to become the thief's personal property?

These are expensive items. No need to be polite around thieves. One should either admit "I lost it" or "Someone stole it". Of course, no one should be accused without very, very good evidence, but saying it was stolen "by someone" will raise the awareness of theft on the unit, if that's the case.

"growing legs" can mean all of those things that you mentioned. If I let someone borrow it, I make sure that I am with them. My stethoscope has an ID tag with my name on it and it is very hard to take off. I never let my stethoscope leave my body.

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In my opinion if you leave it laying around accident or not, and somebody takes it, it has been stolen as well as being 'lost' and falls into the "growing legs" category. People will do anything to make money and I am sure you could probably make a living stealing and selling used stethoscopes, especially if you worked at a hospital that always had nursing students coming and going.

I too plan to never let my Classic SE II leave my sight!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I just purchases a 3M Littmann Lightweight Classic II SE Stethoscope for $46.99 at Medisave.com. I also bought a basic white scrub watch for $19.95. I had my order within 3 days. Also they engrave your stethoscope for free.

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Specializes in ..
Why do you say that the OP won't be able to wear a wrist watch? Most of the folks in my cohort (accel BSN, not LPN in case that matters any) did just that, with no hassles at all.

I used my Casio digital watch with no trouble at all. No need for an "analog" sweep hand style watch, although some folks find it easier to visually see the 15/30/60 sec time interval from a sweep watch vs the digital style.

Infection control. We aren't allowed to wear any jewelry except for a wedding band and plain stud earrings. That means no watches, too. Reason they give? You can't wash your hands properly!

However, I really do swear by my fob watch. I think it's brilliant!

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